US20160277629A1 - Printer with two scanners - Google Patents
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- US20160277629A1 US20160277629A1 US15/038,003 US201315038003A US2016277629A1 US 20160277629 A1 US20160277629 A1 US 20160277629A1 US 201315038003 A US201315038003 A US 201315038003A US 2016277629 A1 US2016277629 A1 US 2016277629A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/32101—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
- H04N1/32128—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image
- H04N1/32133—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F33/00—Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
- B41F33/0036—Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control
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- H04N1/00007—Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for relating to particular apparatus or devices
- H04N1/00015—Reproducing apparatus
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- H04N2201/04701—Detection of scanning velocity or position
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- H04N2201/04701—Detection of scanning velocity or position
- H04N2201/04715—Detection of scanning velocity or position by detecting marks or the like, e.g. slits
- H04N2201/04717—Detection of scanning velocity or position by detecting marks or the like, e.g. slits on the scanned sheet, e.g. a reference sheet
Definitions
- the paper path includes a print zone where ink or a printing material is deposited onto the media.
- a take-up spindle is used to capture and roll up the media after printing.
- Some production printers have a scanner located in the paper path after the print zone. The scanner is used to capture an image of the printing material deposited on the media. The captured image can be used to adjust the location of printed images on the media.
- FIG. 1A is an example printed line pattern with a constant spacing between the lines.
- FIG. 1B is the example line pattern of FIG. 1A scanned with changing media speed.
- FIG. 2A is an example digital pattern containing four lines (numbered 1-4) with a constant spacing between the lines.
- FIG. 2B is the image from FIG. 2A printed using an example printer.
- FIG. 2C is an example image captured using the first scanner.
- FIG. 2D is an example image captured using the second scanner.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example printer 300 .
- FIG. 4 is a bottom sectional view BB of printer 300 from FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of an example printer 500 .
- FIG. 6 is an example block diagram of the processor 552 coupled to memory 554 .
- FIG. 7 is an example flow chart for a speed module.
- the speed of the media traveling through the paper path in a printer is controlled by a servo system.
- a paper path is the path through a printer that the paper travels during the printing process.
- the servo system keeps the average speed of the paper at a constant value. Even though the average speed of the paper may be at a constant value, in some printers the instantaneous speed of the paper may vary from instant to instant. This can make it difficult for a scanner to accurately measure the position of an object on the media relative to other objects on the media.
- Scanners typically have a sensor comprising three lines of photo-sensitive elements, one for each of three primary colors (typically red, green and blue).
- the scan sensor and the object to be imaged are moved relative to each other.
- the scan sensor In a flatbed scanner, the scan sensor is moved with respect to the page placed on the scan platen.
- the media is moved past a stationary scan sensor.
- the scan sensor takes a series of exposures as the object travels past the sensor. Each exposure captures three lines of pixels, one line for each color. The three colors for each pixel are added together to create a line of color pixels.
- the full image captured by the scanner is the sum of the different lines of color pixels.
- Scanners typically use a constant exposure time when capturing images of an object.
- the exposure time for the scanner is based on the amount of light produced by the scanner light source, the optical efficiency of the scanner, the size and gain of the sensor in the scanner and the like.
- each exposure of the sensor captures the same distance along the axis of relative motion.
- the resolution of the scan along the axis of motion is constant.
- the resolution perpendicular to the axis of motion is determined by the number and size of the elements in the scan sensor and the magnification of the optics of the scanner.
- the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged increases during a scan, the distance along the axis of motion captured by each exposure increases. This causes a decrease in resolution or scaling along the axis of motion. If the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged decreases during a scan, the distance along the axis of motion captured by each exposure decreases. This causes an increase in resolution or scaling along the axis of motion. If the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged is a constant value at the correct average speed, the captured image will have a constant resolution and be at 100% scaling.
- FIG. 1A is an example printed line pattern with a constant spacing between the lines. The distance between each line is distance D 1 .
- FIG. 1B is the example line pattern of FIG. 1A scanned with changing media speed. The distance between the lines in FIG. 1B vary. The lines at the top of the page have a spacing greater than distance D 1 and the lines near the bottom of the page have a spacing less than distance D 1 . If distance D 1 on the printed page is constant and accurately known then the change in speed during the scan can be calculated by using the difference between the known spacing on the printed page and the actual spacing in the scanned image. Because the scan speed can be determined, the resolution or scaling of the scan at different point along the length of the page can also be determined. Using the different resolutions the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined.
- the only way the distance D 1 can be accurately known is to have the lines pre-printed onto the media using a printer that does not have instantaneous speed variations.
- the distance between the printed lines will vary dependent on the speed of the media in the print zone at the time the lines where printed.
- a print zone is the area in the paper path where marking material, for example ink, is deposited onto the media.
- a printer will have two scanners located in the paper path after the print zone.
- the two scanners will be spaced apart by a known distance A along the axis of motion of the media through the paper path.
- the scanners will overlap in at least one area in a direction perpendicular to the axis of motion of the media through the paper path.
- Each scanner will capture an image of the same side of the media as it travels through the paper path.
- Each scanner will have a constant exposure time. The exposure times for the two scanners will be the same.
- FIG. 2A is an example digital pattern containing four lines (numbered 1-4) with a constant spacing between the lines. The distance between each line is distance D 2 .
- FIG. 2B is the image from FIG. 2A printed using an example printer.
- the example printer controls the average speed of the media through the print zone to a constant value. However the speed of the media at a given instance in time may be faster or slower than the average speed. Because of the variation in speed, the distance between printed lines is not constant.
- the distance between line 1 and line 2 is now D 3 , the distance between line 2 and line 3 is D 4 and the distance between line 3 and line 4 is D 5 .
- Distance D 3 is larger than distance D 2 , indicating the media was traveling through the print zone at a faster than average speed when printing lines 1 and 2 .
- Distance D 5 is smaller than distance D 2 , indicating the media was traveling through the print zone at a slower than average speed when printing lines 3 and 4 .
- FIG. 2C is an example image captured using the first scanner.
- the image from the first scanner will be called image 1 .
- Image 1 was captured starting at time t 0 .
- the spacing between the four lines in image 1 is not the same as the distance between the four lines printed on the media in FIG. 2B . This is because the media was moving at a different speed when it was printed than when it was scanned.
- FIG. 2D is an example image captured using the second scanner.
- the image from the second scanner will be called image 2 .
- Image 2 was also captured starting at time t 0 .
- line 1 is further down the page that in image 1 . That's because the second scanner is offset from the first scanner in the direction of media motion in the paper path.
- the difference in the location of line 1 between the two images ( ⁇ 1 ) represents the time it takes for the first line printed on the media to travel from the first scanner to the second scanner.
- the velocity V of line 1 between the two scanners can be calculated.
- This process can be used for each line as it is moved past the two scanners. For example the difference in the location of line 2 between the two images is ⁇ 2 , ⁇ 3 for line 3 and ⁇ 4 for line 4 .
- This allows a real time measure of the speed/scaling for each location on the media as it passes by the second scanner. Using the calculated scaling at different points along the image, the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined.
- the examples above use a line printed on the media as a reference mark to calculate the speed of the media.
- other printed objects can be used as the reference mark to calculate the speed of the media.
- the top edge of an image can be used as the reference mark or the top edge of a row of text can be used as the reference mark.
- Any image printed on the media that has an edge perpendicular to the axis of media travel can be used as a reference mark.
- ink not visible to the human eye may be used to print the reference mark, for example inferred or ultraviolet ink may be used to print the reference mark.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example printer 300 .
- Printer 300 comprises a media source 330 , media 352 , a pair of pinch rollers 332 , a printhead 334 , a first scanner 336 , a second scanner 338 , a pair of output rollers 340 , a media take-up spindle 342 and a motor 348 .
- a paper path runs from the media source 330 through the pair of pinch rollers 332 , past the printhead 334 , past the first scanner 336 and the second scanner 338 , between the pair of output rollers and onto the media take-up spindle.
- the media take-up spindle is known as the media take-up location.
- a print zone 346 is underneath printhead 334 .
- the paper path in the printer may also include a second printhead for printing on the second side of the media, one or more drying area and the like, but these features are not shown for clarity.
- Media 352 is shown running from the media source 330 , through the paper path and onto the take-up spindle 342 .
- motor 348 is coupled to media take-up spindle by belt 350 .
- Motor 348 is part of a servo system than controls the average speed of the media through the paper path.
- Motor 348 may be either an alternating current (AC) motor or a direct current (DC) motor.
- Motor 348 has a sensor that outputs the current rotational speed of motor 348 .
- the servo system uses the current rotational speed of the motor to calculate and control the average speed of the media through the paper path.
- the servo system may have additional motors and sensors attached to the media source, the pair of pinch rollers and/or the pair of output rollers, but these motors and sensors are not shown for clarity.
- FIG. 4 is a bottom sectional view BB of printer 300 from FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a section of media 452 looking upwards towards the scanners.
- the media is shown as a dotted line for clarity.
- Media 452 has a width W and moves along an axis of motion through the paper path as shown by arrow 460 .
- the axis of motion is perpendicular to the width of the media.
- the images from the 4 scanners can be stitched together to form an image that has a width equal to the width of the media W.
- a first pair of scanners ( 436 a and 436 b ) are offset from a second pair of scanners ( 438 a and 438 b ) along the axis of motion (as shown by arrow 460 ).
- the distance between the two sets of scanners along the axis of motion is distance A.
- distance A is between 50 and 90 mm, for example 69 mm.
- Each scanner in the staggered line across the width of the media 452 overlaps the next scanner in the line by a distance O. In other examples, the scanners may overlap each other completely.
- a reference mark 462 is shown in the overlap area of scanners 436 a and 438 a .
- the reference mark 462 will pass under the first scanner 436 a and then will pass under the second scanner 438 a .
- the two scanners ( 436 a and 438 a ) have the same constant exposure time and start capturing an image at the same time, the two images captured will be similar to FIGS. 2C and 2D .
- the velocity of the reference mark as it travels between the two scanners can be determined.
- the resolution and scaling at that location on the media can also be determined.
- the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined.
- the actual location of printed objects on the page can be used to adjust the relative location of objects to be printed.
- a top of page reference mark may be printed periodically on the media.
- the image for each page is printed between two of the top of page reference marks.
- the margins of the page may be uneven when the roll of media is cut into pages.
- FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of an example printer 500 .
- Printer 500 comprises a processor 552 , memory 554 , input/output (I/O) module 556 , print engine 558 , formatter 560 , control panel 566 , a first scanner 564 and a second scanner 565 all coupled together on bus 562 .
- printer 500 may also have a user interface module, an input device, and the like, but these items are not shown for clarity.
- Processor 552 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination of these devices.
- Memory 554 may comprise volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a storage device. Memory 554 is a non-transitory computer readable medium.
- non-volatile memory examples include, but are not limited to, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and read only memory (ROM).
- volatile memory examples include, but are not limited to, static random access memory (SRAM), and dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
- SRAM static random access memory
- DRAM dynamic random access memory
- storage devices include, but are not limited to, hard disk drives, compact disc drives, digital versatile disc drives, optical drives, and flash memory devices.
- I/O module 556 is used to couple printer 500 to other devices, for example the Internet or a computer.
- Printer 500 has computer executable code, typically called firmware, stored in the memory 554 .
- the firmware is stored as computer readable instructions in the non-transitory computer readable medium (i.e. the memory 554 ).
- Processor 552 generally retrieves and executes the instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to operate printer 500 and to execute functions. In one example processor 552 executes code that measures the speed of the media passing by the first and second scanners ( 564 and 565 ).
- FIG. 6 is an example block diagram of the processor 552 coupled to memory 554 .
- Memory 554 contains firmware 670 .
- Firmware 670 contains a speed module 672 .
- the processor 552 executes the code in speed module 372 to measure the speed of the media passing by the first and second scanners ( 564 and 565 ).
- FIG. 7 is an example flow chart for a method of operating a speed module, for example the speed module of FIG. 6 .
- Flow starts at 770 where a reference mark is printed onto media.
- Flow continues at 772 where a first image of the reference mark is scanned with a first scanner.
- Flow continues at 774 where a second image of the reference mark is scanned with a second scanner.
- Flow continues at 776 where the speed of the media is calculated using the location of the reference mark in the first and second images.
Abstract
Description
- Many production printers use media that is fed through the paper path of the printer from a roll or web of media. The paper path includes a print zone where ink or a printing material is deposited onto the media. A take-up spindle is used to capture and roll up the media after printing. Some production printers have a scanner located in the paper path after the print zone. The scanner is used to capture an image of the printing material deposited on the media. The captured image can be used to adjust the location of printed images on the media.
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FIG. 1A is an example printed line pattern with a constant spacing between the lines. -
FIG. 1B is the example line pattern ofFIG. 1A scanned with changing media speed. -
FIG. 2A is an example digital pattern containing four lines (numbered 1-4) with a constant spacing between the lines. -
FIG. 2B is the image fromFIG. 2A printed using an example printer. -
FIG. 2C is an example image captured using the first scanner. -
FIG. 2D is an example image captured using the second scanner. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of anexample printer 300. -
FIG. 4 is a bottom sectional view BB ofprinter 300 fromFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of anexample printer 500. -
FIG. 6 is an example block diagram of theprocessor 552 coupled tomemory 554. -
FIG. 7 is an example flow chart for a speed module. - The speed of the media traveling through the paper path in a printer is controlled by a servo system. A paper path is the path through a printer that the paper travels during the printing process. In general, the servo system keeps the average speed of the paper at a constant value. Even though the average speed of the paper may be at a constant value, in some printers the instantaneous speed of the paper may vary from instant to instant. This can make it difficult for a scanner to accurately measure the position of an object on the media relative to other objects on the media.
- Scanners typically have a sensor comprising three lines of photo-sensitive elements, one for each of three primary colors (typically red, green and blue). When capturing an image of an object, the scan sensor and the object to be imaged are moved relative to each other. In a flatbed scanner, the scan sensor is moved with respect to the page placed on the scan platen. In a production printer, the media is moved past a stationary scan sensor. The scan sensor takes a series of exposures as the object travels past the sensor. Each exposure captures three lines of pixels, one line for each color. The three colors for each pixel are added together to create a line of color pixels. The full image captured by the scanner is the sum of the different lines of color pixels.
- Scanners typically use a constant exposure time when capturing images of an object. The exposure time for the scanner is based on the amount of light produced by the scanner light source, the optical efficiency of the scanner, the size and gain of the sensor in the scanner and the like. When the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged is constant, each exposure of the sensor captures the same distance along the axis of relative motion. By capturing the same distance along the axis of motion, the resolution of the scan along the axis of motion is constant. The resolution perpendicular to the axis of motion is determined by the number and size of the elements in the scan sensor and the magnification of the optics of the scanner.
- If the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged increases during a scan, the distance along the axis of motion captured by each exposure increases. This causes a decrease in resolution or scaling along the axis of motion. If the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged decreases during a scan, the distance along the axis of motion captured by each exposure decreases. This causes an increase in resolution or scaling along the axis of motion. If the relative motion between the scan sensor and the object being imaged is a constant value at the correct average speed, the captured image will have a constant resolution and be at 100% scaling.
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FIG. 1A is an example printed line pattern with a constant spacing between the lines. The distance between each line is distance D1.FIG. 1B is the example line pattern ofFIG. 1A scanned with changing media speed. The distance between the lines inFIG. 1B vary. The lines at the top of the page have a spacing greater than distance D1 and the lines near the bottom of the page have a spacing less than distance D1. If distance D1 on the printed page is constant and accurately known then the change in speed during the scan can be calculated by using the difference between the known spacing on the printed page and the actual spacing in the scanned image. Because the scan speed can be determined, the resolution or scaling of the scan at different point along the length of the page can also be determined. Using the different resolutions the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined. - Unfortunately the only way the distance D1 can be accurately known is to have the lines pre-printed onto the media using a printer that does not have instantaneous speed variations. When a digital image with constant line spacing is printed on a printer that has instantaneous speed variations, the distance between the printed lines will vary dependent on the speed of the media in the print zone at the time the lines where printed. A print zone is the area in the paper path where marking material, for example ink, is deposited onto the media. When the printed image is scanned, variations in line spacing in the scanned image may be caused by the variation in media speed during printing and/or the variation in media speed during scanning. Therefore the actual speed of the media at the scanner cannot be determined using one scanner.
- In one example, a printer will have two scanners located in the paper path after the print zone. The two scanners will be spaced apart by a known distance A along the axis of motion of the media through the paper path. The scanners will overlap in at least one area in a direction perpendicular to the axis of motion of the media through the paper path. Each scanner will capture an image of the same side of the media as it travels through the paper path. Each scanner will have a constant exposure time. The exposure times for the two scanners will be the same.
FIG. 2A is an example digital pattern containing four lines (numbered 1-4) with a constant spacing between the lines. The distance between each line is distance D2. -
FIG. 2B is the image fromFIG. 2A printed using an example printer. The example printer controls the average speed of the media through the print zone to a constant value. However the speed of the media at a given instance in time may be faster or slower than the average speed. Because of the variation in speed, the distance between printed lines is not constant. The distance betweenline 1 andline 2 is now D3, the distance betweenline 2 andline 3 is D4 and the distance betweenline 3 andline 4 is D5. Distance D3 is larger than distance D2, indicating the media was traveling through the print zone at a faster than average speed when printinglines lines -
FIG. 2C is an example image captured using the first scanner. The image from the first scanner will be called image1. Image1 was captured starting at time t0. In this example, the spacing between the four lines in image1 is not the same as the distance between the four lines printed on the media inFIG. 2B . This is because the media was moving at a different speed when it was printed than when it was scanned.FIG. 2D is an example image captured using the second scanner. The image from the second scanner will be called image2. Image2 was also captured starting at time t0. In image2,line 1 is further down the page that in image1. That's because the second scanner is offset from the first scanner in the direction of media motion in the paper path. - The difference in the location of
line 1 between the two images is Δ1 (Δ1=location ofline 1 in image2−location ofline 1 in image1). The location of a line in an image can be determined by examining which row of pixels the line is located at. For example whenline 1 is at pixel row 20 inimage 1 andline 1 is at pixel row 170 inimage 2, Δ1 will equal 150 pixels (Δ1=170−20). Because the exposure time is the same for both scanners, each pixel in the images is equivalent to an exposure time. The difference in the location ofline 1 between the two images (Δ1) represents the time it takes for the first line printed on the media to travel from the first scanner to the second scanner. - Because the distance between the two scanners is known (distance A) and the exposure rate is a constant, the velocity V of
line 1 between the two scanners can be calculated. V=Distance/Time where the distance is distance A and the time is the number of pixels Δ1 multiplied by the exposure time. For example when Δ1 equals 150 pixels and the exposure time is 5 milliseconds, the travel time for the line to travel between the two scanners is 750 milliseconds (150*5=750). The scaling S in the image can also be calculated as S=Vm/Va where Vm is the measured velocity of a line between the two scanners and Va is the average velocity of the media through the paper path. When the media is moving at the average speed between the two scanners the scaling is 1 and Δ1 will equal distance A. - This process can be used for each line as it is moved past the two scanners. For example the difference in the location of
line 2 between the two images is Δ2, Δ3 forline 3 and Δ4 forline 4. This allows a real time measure of the speed/scaling for each location on the media as it passes by the second scanner. Using the calculated scaling at different points along the image, the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined. - In the examples above a series of lines with constant spacing between the lines is used. The spacing between the lines in the digital image does not need to be a constant. The examples used a constant spacing in the digital image to show the effects of the change in speeds on the different components of the system (print zone and first and second scanner).
- The examples above use a line printed on the media as a reference mark to calculate the speed of the media. In other examples, other printed objects can be used as the reference mark to calculate the speed of the media. For example the top edge of an image can be used as the reference mark or the top edge of a row of text can be used as the reference mark. Any image printed on the media that has an edge perpendicular to the axis of media travel can be used as a reference mark. In some examples ink not visible to the human eye may be used to print the reference mark, for example inferred or ultraviolet ink may be used to print the reference mark.
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FIG. 3 is a schematic view of anexample printer 300.Printer 300 comprises amedia source 330,media 352, a pair ofpinch rollers 332, aprinthead 334, afirst scanner 336, asecond scanner 338, a pair ofoutput rollers 340, a media take-upspindle 342 and amotor 348. A paper path runs from themedia source 330 through the pair ofpinch rollers 332, past theprinthead 334, past thefirst scanner 336 and thesecond scanner 338, between the pair of output rollers and onto the media take-up spindle. The media take-up spindle is known as the media take-up location. Aprint zone 346 is underneathprinthead 334. The paper path in the printer may also include a second printhead for printing on the second side of the media, one or more drying area and the like, but these features are not shown for clarity.Media 352 is shown running from themedia source 330, through the paper path and onto the take-upspindle 342. - In one example,
motor 348 is coupled to media take-up spindle bybelt 350.Motor 348 is part of a servo system than controls the average speed of the media through the paper path.Motor 348 may be either an alternating current (AC) motor or a direct current (DC) motor.Motor 348 has a sensor that outputs the current rotational speed ofmotor 348. The servo system uses the current rotational speed of the motor to calculate and control the average speed of the media through the paper path. The servo system may have additional motors and sensors attached to the media source, the pair of pinch rollers and/or the pair of output rollers, but these motors and sensors are not shown for clarity. -
FIG. 4 is a bottom sectional view BB ofprinter 300 fromFIG. 3 .FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a section ofmedia 452 looking upwards towards the scanners. The media is shown as a dotted line for clarity.Media 452 has a width W and moves along an axis of motion through the paper path as shown byarrow 460. The axis of motion is perpendicular to the width of the media. There are 4 scanners (436 a, 436 b, 438 a and 438 b) in a staggered line spaced across the width ofmedia 452. In other examples there may only be two scanners. The images from the 4 scanners can be stitched together to form an image that has a width equal to the width of the media W. - A first pair of scanners (436 a and 436 b) are offset from a second pair of scanners (438 a and 438 b) along the axis of motion (as shown by arrow 460). The distance between the two sets of scanners along the axis of motion is distance A. In one example distance A is between 50 and 90 mm, for example 69 mm. Each scanner in the staggered line across the width of the
media 452 overlaps the next scanner in the line by a distance O. In other examples, the scanners may overlap each other completely. - A
reference mark 462 is shown in the overlap area ofscanners media 452 travels through the paper path along the direction of motion (as shown by arrow 460), thereference mark 462 will pass under thefirst scanner 436 a and then will pass under thesecond scanner 438 a. When the two scanners (436 a and 438 a) have the same constant exposure time and start capturing an image at the same time, the two images captured will be similar toFIGS. 2C and 2D . Using the location of the reference mark in the two images the velocity of the reference mark as it travels between the two scanners can be determined. Using the determined velocity the resolution and scaling at that location on the media can also be determined. Using the calculated resolution or scaling at the different locations along the image, the actual location of printed objects on the page can be determined. - The actual location of printed objects on the page can be used to adjust the relative location of objects to be printed. For example a top of page reference mark may be printed periodically on the media. The image for each page is printed between two of the top of page reference marks. When the spacing between the top of page reference mark and the image of the page is incorrect, the margins of the page may be uneven when the roll of media is cut into pages. By determining the actual location of the top of page reference mark and the actual location of the image of the page, the spacing between the two can be adjusted.
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FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of anexample printer 500.Printer 500 comprises aprocessor 552,memory 554, input/output (I/O)module 556,print engine 558,formatter 560,control panel 566, afirst scanner 564 and asecond scanner 565 all coupled together onbus 562. In someexamples printer 500 may also have a user interface module, an input device, and the like, but these items are not shown for clarity.Processor 552 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination of these devices.Memory 554 may comprise volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a storage device.Memory 554 is a non-transitory computer readable medium. Examples of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and read only memory (ROM). Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to, static random access memory (SRAM), and dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Examples of storage devices include, but are not limited to, hard disk drives, compact disc drives, digital versatile disc drives, optical drives, and flash memory devices. - I/
O module 556 is used to coupleprinter 500 to other devices, for example the Internet or a computer.Printer 500 has computer executable code, typically called firmware, stored in thememory 554. The firmware is stored as computer readable instructions in the non-transitory computer readable medium (i.e. the memory 554).Processor 552 generally retrieves and executes the instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to operateprinter 500 and to execute functions. In oneexample processor 552 executes code that measures the speed of the media passing by the first and second scanners (564 and 565). -
FIG. 6 is an example block diagram of theprocessor 552 coupled tomemory 554.Memory 554 containsfirmware 670.Firmware 670 contains aspeed module 672. Theprocessor 552 executes the code in speed module 372 to measure the speed of the media passing by the first and second scanners (564 and 565). -
FIG. 7 is an example flow chart for a method of operating a speed module, for example the speed module ofFIG. 6 . Flow starts at 770 where a reference mark is printed onto media. Flow continues at 772 where a first image of the reference mark is scanned with a first scanner. Flow continues at 774 where a second image of the reference mark is scanned with a second scanner. Flow continues at 776 where the speed of the media is calculated using the location of the reference mark in the first and second images.
Claims (15)
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US9948805B2 (en) * | 2016-02-02 | 2018-04-17 | Konica Minolta, Inc. | Image reading device, image forming system, and program |
US11563862B2 (en) * | 2017-03-13 | 2023-01-24 | Konica Minolta, Inc. | Image forming device, image reading device, non-transitory recording medium storing computer-readable program, image forming method, and image processing device |
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JP6540448B2 (en) * | 2015-10-16 | 2019-07-10 | コニカミノルタ株式会社 | Image forming device |
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US10165150B2 (en) | 2018-12-25 |
EP3072287A1 (en) | 2016-09-28 |
CN109334252A (en) | 2019-02-15 |
WO2015074715A1 (en) | 2015-05-28 |
CN105934937B (en) | 2018-12-07 |
CN109334252B (en) | 2020-10-20 |
CN105934937A (en) | 2016-09-07 |
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